Water-jet hydrofoil boat



Jan. 12, 1965 c. A. GONGWER 3,

WATER-JEZT HYDROFOIL BOAT Filed Jan. 7, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l CALVIN A. GONGWE R ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1965 c. A. GONGWER I 3,165,084

WATER-JET HYDROFOIL. BOAT Filed Jan. 7, 1963 I 3 Sheets-sheaf, 2

CALVIN A. GONGWER ATTORNEY c. A. GONGWER WATER-JET- HYDROFOIL BOAT Jan. 12, 1965 Filed Jan. 7,1963

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. CALVIN A. GONGWER ATTORNEY United Stats Ohio Filed Jan. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 249,768 7 (llaims. c1. 1I466.5)

This invention relates in general to fluid intake means useful with water craft, and in particular to combined structure and intake means.

There have been many recent advances in propulsion means for small craft. In particular, emphasis has been placed on the use of hydrofoils to increase the speed of such craft far beyond that attainable through attempting to drive smaller size vessels through water with their hulls partially immersed. Hydrofoils have to date provided the support necessary to lift a hull and its contents, whether passenger or cargo, from the water and to permit motion through the water with much less friction than is present when the hull is partially immersed.

Hydrofoil advances to date have been concentrated on reaching an optimum shape of hydrofoils and their disposition with respect to the hull of the craft. All known hydrofoils are fixed or rigid with relation to the craft, or at the most adaptable for movement about a single axis of the support surface itself depending on the amount of lift desired.

With the development of fluid jet propulsion, that is, water-jet propulsion such as produced by the device disclosed in my copending US. patent application Serial No. 20,897, filed April 8, 1960, now abandoned, which is assigned tothe same assignee as the present invention, such improved propulsion means give promise of improved speed in hydrofoil craft. With the use of a device for providing water-jet propulsion there is a necessity for inducting water into the vessel, or to the jet-producing device itself, while the hull of the craft is above the surface of the water from which the craft receives support.

All hydrofoil vessels suffer drag and weight penalties due to the requirement that a provision be made for propulsion appendages such as propeller, shafting, struts, gear boxes, or in the case of water-jet propulsion, water scoop and ducting, all of which cause drag proportionately larger than the low drag typical of hydrofoil supports alone. To avoid such penalties, the intake means of the present invention have been devised.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to pro vide means for inducting water into a craft or other vessel of the hydrofoil type powered by water-jet propulsion which does not entail the use of appendages from the vessel or craft other than those normally installed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for the intake of water by a craft or vessel powered by water-jet propulsion wherein the intake conduit is combined with other structural members of the craft or vessel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for the intake of water into a craft or vessel powered by water-jet propulsion wherein the hull of the vessel during normal operation is above the surface of the water.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, schematic in form, of a craft illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cut-away longitudinal sectional view of a portion of one of the hydrofoils of the embodiment of FIG. 1. i

3,165,084 Patented Jan. 12, 1965 FIG. 3 is a transverse section of the hydrofoil shown in FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, schematic in form, of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view, partially shown in elevation, of a support member of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a front end elevational view, schematic in form, of a craft illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

' FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, schematic in form, showing the hydrofoils of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an alternate hydrofoil configuration taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a transverse section of the hydrofoil shown in FIG. 8 taken along line 99 thereof.

The device of the present invention utilizes the supporting members of a craft or vessel suspended in water to induct water into the craft for use in powering the craft by water-jet propulsion, thereby avoiding the addi tion of appendages beyond those supporting the craft for this purpose.

Referring-now to FIG. 1 there is shown a craft 11 having attached to it hydrofoil members 12, 13, 14, and 15 which members are suitably afiixed to the hull of the craft by fittings 18. The hydrofoil members are preferably depending from their support members 20, shown in FIG. 4, in a negative dihedral posture which provides a change of angle of attack as the foil is turned about a vertical axis. The foil members and supports are in fixed relation to one another, with rotation of the supports 28 accomplished through the application of a selected torque applied via bell crank 22, in the manner disclosed in my US. Patent 2,823,636 issued February 18, 1958. A support bracket 23 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5, FIG. 5 also disclosing that shaft 20 is continuous through housing 24 and terminates within col-. lar 26.

Vessel or craft 11 is propelled by a water-jet propulsion means illustrated schematically at 2.8, which means may be of the type described in copending U.S, patent application Serial No. 20,897, filed April 8, 1960, or other similar jet propulsion means by which a propelling force is produced by forcing water at high velocity through a jet nozzle. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 water is inducted to a pump 30 via a conduit means 31 within hydrofoils 12, 13, I4, and 15 through inlets 32. A continuous passage is formed with in or integral with the hydrofoils, supporting shafts 20,

. a plenum 33, pump 30 and jet 28. Shaft 20 is, as stated,

rotatable substantially 360 by means of bell crank 22. Conduit members 34, 35, 36, and 37 are connected respectively to the hydrofoil members 14, 12, '13, and 15. Water is conveyed to the conduit members from support members 28 via channel members 40 which are illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, orifices 41 are provided in support members 20 permitting flow of fluid therethrough and into annular chamber 43 thence into their respective conduits. The how of water from rotatably mounted support member 20 into annular chamber 43 may be other than through orifices as shown in FIG. 5, such as by providing vertical slots in support member 28 through which water may flow, with a limitation on permissible area of the orifices or slots being the strength requirement of member 20 to impart turning moment of the hydrofoil member with which it is associated. I

Water isinducted into the hydrofoils, and such-induction may the through inlets such as 32 at the end of the foil as shown at the left in FIG. 2 or in inlets along the oneness leading edge of the foil as shown at 45 in FIG. 9. In FIG. 2 the end of hydrofoil 14 is tapered such that the leading edge 46 thereof is of shorter length than the trailing edge 47,.the forward motion of the craft being in the direction indicated by arrow 42. Inserted in inlet 32 to promote scooping or otherwise enhance the induction of water into the inlet are vanes d shown in Fl .13. 2 and 3. It is within the scope of the present invention to have other means than vanes 54) inserted in the inlets, and also to have other configurations than the taper at 32, or to provide for induction of water at inlets along the top or bottom surfaces of the hydrofoils or along the trailing edges thereof, or a combination of the inlets mentioned.

Each of the journal boxes 4t) in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4- provides both structural strength and steadying for the corresponding support member as well as including the annular chamber 43 to convey water from the support member 29 into the respective con duit 34, 35, 36, or 357.

In'FIG. 6, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein craft Ill has attached to it for- Ward hydrofoils 69 and 61 and aft hydrofoils 65 and 64.

The forward hydrofoils extend under the vessel and pivot at 66. Hydrofoils 69 and 61 are rotatable about their longitudinal axis .through bell cranks 5% and 69. In the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7, intake of water is effected through only the aft hydrofoils 63 and 64 which hydrofoils also provide'substantially 65% of the support of the craft when planing on its hydrofoils. Hydrofoils 63 and 64 may have vanes 56 in their inlets along the leading edge thereof, as shown, or the leading edge may have perforations 4-5 such as those shown in FIG, 8.

' Where the leading edge has such perforations, a check valve member 72 may be inserted so that back pressure of the water. will be prevented from causing the water to escape through the perforations 45 should part of either hydrofoil 63 or 64 come out of the water due to waves or maneuvers.

*It will be "appreciated that the intake of water may be elfected'through nacelles, not shown, positioned at the ends of hydrofoil support members Within the concept of the invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, control about the roll, pitch, and yaw axes is effected through a combination of rotation of forward hydrofoils 6t and s1 and actuation of control vanes 73, only one of which is shown on the aft hydrofoil surfaces. In the FIG. 6 embodiment,

the ducts in hydrofoils 63 and 6d are shown supplying water to fourjet devices, namely, 76 and i s being suplplied by hydrofoil 64, and 75 and 77 by hydrofoil 63.

The hydrofoils in the embodiments of the invention may perform several functions some of which are to serve as cantilever beams supporting the bull, to provide hydrodynamic control surfaces, to provide for the induction of water through scoops or other suitable means, and as water ducts per se to the water-jet engine intake. The basic rigidity and strength of the foil structure and the support function of the hydrofoils are all factors to be accommodatedinto a hydrofoil configuration most suitable to minimize torsion deflection which may cause undesirable changes in angle of incidence (attack) and result in control instability. The internal conduction or induction of water through the foil may be accomplished priate arrangement of the internal foil structure, to provide for improved or less disturbed llow of water.

'.-'1'Ihe embodiment shown in FIG. 1 contains control stick means 80 for controlling the positioning of each of hydrofoil surfaces 12, 13, 14, and Movement of the control stick is conveyed to the respective bell cranks attached to' supportmem-bers 2t} through control box 51.

Motion about the three axes of movement of the craft namely, the yaw, roll, and pitch axes is imparted in a manner similar to that described in my Us. Patent 2,823,- 636 issued on February 18, 1958. Control stick motion may produce pitch motion of vessel ill by rotating the respective support iembers 2 d to pilot hydrofoil surfaces 12 and 13 in a forward direction and 14- and 15 in a rearward direction. By such motion less lift is provided through foils l2 and 13 to depress the bow of craft ll. Turning moment about the roll axis is obtained by imparting opposite motion to foils 12 and 13 and paralleling to them the foils l4 and 15, respectively. Motion about the yaw axis is obtained by moving the foils on one side of the vessel toward one another and the foils on the opposite side of the vessel away from one another, providing turning or steering of the vessel.

Control of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is effected through rotation of forward hydrofoils so and all and concurrent actuation of control surfaces 73. Turning moment about the yaw xis is obtained by imparting opposite rotation to foils 6% and i.e. turning the leading edge of one downarwd and of the other upward, and paralleling to them control surfaces '73. Thus, to make a turn to the right or starborad, hydrofoil 61 would be rotated with its leading edge turned upward, while control surface 23 would be rotated downward. Such rotation would in effect produce a pitch up due to the foils on the starboard side of the vessel which is complemented by an opposite imparted to companion foils and surfaces causing downward pitch to be exerted on the port side thereby resulting in a pure turn of the vessel to starboard. Motion about the pitch axis is obtained by rotating foils 6t 61 in the same direction, that is, with the leading edges of each downward or upward, and imparting opposite rotation to control surfaces 73. Motion about the roll axis is obtained by rotating hydrofoils 6d and (if oppositely and rotating respective surfaces 73 in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation ofthe forward hydrofoil attached to the same side of the vessel.

In summary, there is provided by the present invention a unique use of support surfaces for a water craft to permit the craft to attain speeds in a Seaway far exceeding those where a hull to which the surfaces are attached is partially immersed in the water. The support surfaces induct water to provide for water-jet propulsion of the craft wherein such induction of water does not require the addition of any appendages to the craft. Additionally, the support surfaces provide for control of the craft about the three axes of movement. An important reduction in underwater sound is also provided rendering a hydrofoil craft propelled by water-jet means substantially more difiicult to detect than conventional craft.

()bviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. it is therefore to be understood that Within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A water intake election system for a craft of the hydrofoil type owered by Water-jet propulsion comprising at leas hydrofoil support means rotatably mounted on said craft, control means connected to each of said onort means for controlling movement of said craft about the pitch, yaw and roll axes while said craft is supported by said support means, waterjet propulsion means in said craft, conduit means in at least two of said support. means for conveying water to said propulsion means, and said at least two support means being provided with inlets located in the respective surfaces thereof and communicating with said conduit means for in ducting water into said conduit means through the inlets.

2. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said inlets are positioned in said at least two support means in areas remote from said craft.

3. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said sponding thereto.

4. The system claimed in claim 3 wherein said support means are tapered at their extremities remote from said craft such that the leading edge of each support means is shorter in length than the trailing edge, said inlets being positioned at said extremities, and arcuate vane means in said inlets for directing water into said support means.

5. A water intake system for a craft of the hydrofoil type powered by water-jet propulsion comprising at least four hydrofoil support means for supporting said craft out of the-water across which the craft travels, water intake means in at least two of said support means, said water intake means having inlets at positions remote from said craft, at least two of said support means being.rotatable with respect to said craft, and means for rotating said rotatable support means whereby movement of said craft about selected axes may be controlled.

6. The system claimed in claim 5 wherein said support means having intake means therein are nonrotatable, and movable control surfaces in said nonrotatable sup port means to complement the action of the rotatable support means in providingfor control of said craft.

7. A water intake system for a craft of the hydrofoil type powered by water-jet propulsion comprising at least four hydrofoil support means for supporting said craft out of the water across which the craft travels, water intake means in each of said support means, said intake means having inlets at positions remote from said craft,

' No. 7, page 19 relied on).

each of said support means being rotatable with respect to said craft, and means for ratating said rotatable. support means whereby movement of said craft about selected axes may be controlled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,444,491 Baldwin Feb. 6, 1923 1,776,700 Pegna Sept. 23, 1930 1,838,354 Bauer Dec; 29, 1931 2,491,693 Sivertsen Dec. 20, 1949 2,749,870 Vavra June 12, .1956 2,823,636 Gongwer et al Feb. 18, 1958 3,006,307 Johnson H. Oct. 31, 1961 3,031,999 Bader May 1, 1962 3,055,331 Singelmann Sept. 25,1962

3 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,496 Great Britain of 1907 715,880 Great Britain Sept. 22, 1954 349,779 Germany Mar. 7, 1922 902,229 Germany Oct. 18, 1954 465,129 Italy- Aug. 11, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Hovering Craft and Hydrofoil, April 1962. (vol. 1,

Interavia, vol. XVI, No. 4, April 1961 .(page 482 relied on). 

1. A WATER INTAKE AND EJECTION SYSTEM FOR A CRAFT OF THE HYDROFOIL TYPE POWERED BY WATER-JET PROPULSION COMPRISING AT LEAST FOUR HYDROFOIL SUPPORT MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CRAFT, CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF SAID CRAFT ABOUT THE PITCH, YAW AND ROLL AXES WHILE SAID CRAFT IS SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS, WATER-JET PROPULSION MEANS IN SAID CRAFT, CONDUIT MEANS IN AT LEAST TWO OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR CONVEYING WATER TO SAID PROPULSION MEANS, AND SAID AT LEAST TWO SUPPORT MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH INLETS LOCATED IN THE RESPECTIVE SURFACES THEREOF AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CONDUIT MEANS FOR INDUCTING WATER INTO SAID CONDUIT MEANS THROUGH THE INLETS. 